Pin grip terminal-hermetic seal



y 1969 R. o. KENNEDY 3,456,235

PIN GRIP TERMINAL-IIERMETIC SEAL Filed March 13, 1967 ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent 3,456,235 PIN GRIP TERMINAL-HERMEIIC SEAL Robert D.Kennedy, Warren, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit,Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 622,501Int. Cl. H01r /08, 13/24 US. Cl. 339-258 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE In a preferred form, this disclosure relates to an electricalconnector for resiliently gripping a pin terminal. The connectorcomprises a unitary, thin metal body having a relatively flatintermediate portion and a pair of end portions. One of the end portionsincludes a pair of crimping flanges which are adapted to be respectivelycrimped on the insulation and the bare wire of a wire conductor. Theother of the end portions is folded back over the intermediate portionto define an opening for receiving the pin terminal. The connectorfurther includes a pair of spaced flanges integral with the intermediateportion of the metal body and which extend transversely thereof towardthe other end portion. The flanges have hook-shaped end sections and theother end portion of the metal body has a pair of lateral flanges at itsopposite sides which slidably engage along the underside of thehook-shaped end sections. The opening defined by the intermediate andother end portion has a transverse dimension which is less than thetransverse dimension of the pin terminal so that when the pin terminalis inserted therebetween the intermediate and other end portions areflexed outwardly and thereby resiliently grip the pin terminal, and withthe lateral flanges on the other end portion sliding on the underside ofthe hook-shaped end sections during the outward flexing movement of theportions.

This invention relates to electrical connectors and more particularly toan electrical connector having portions adapted to frictionally engagean electric wire and which has other portions arranged to resilientlygrip a cylindrical terminal.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple springmetal connector with improved design which is permanently attached tothe end of an insulated wire and which resiliently and frictionally fitsaround and grips a cylindrical terminal.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a connectorwhich is permanently attached to the end of an insulated electrical wirewhich is adapted to resiliently engage various types of cylindricalterminals having diameters within given parameters which tend to fastenmore securely to a terminal when the terminal is forced into frictionalengagement with a resilient portion thereof.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide aconnector within the purview of the aforementioned objects which issimple to operate and which is economical to manufacture.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention isclearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the subject invention with the terminalshown in section;

FIGURE 2 is a. view in the direction of the arrows 2 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a connector of the subject invention.

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Referring to FIGURE 1, conductive wire 10 is covered by insulation 12and is inserted between flanges 14 and 16. Flanges 14 and 16 are betterseen in FIGURE 3 in their free form and are substantially U-shapedcradle members. The insulation 12 is stripped from wire 10 along line 18so that flange 14 can be deformed around insulation 12 and flange 16 canbe deformed around wire 10. When flanges 14 and 16 are deformed, theytake on a substantially overlapping O-shaped configuration. In thismanner, connector body 20 is permanently attached to the end of wire 10.

Referring to FIGURE 3, an extension 22 of body 20 is substantially flatin shape and is folded back over itself to form an aperture 24.Outwardly projecting flanges 26 are adapted to receive upstanding hookedmembers 28 so that a round terminal 30, such as seen in FIGURE 2, whenforced into aperture 24, causes flanges 26 to more firmly interlock withhooked members 28 causing a resilient frictional engagement withconnector body 20 and terminal 30. Bent out portions 32 and 34 provide aleadin to aperture 24 to facilitate the insertion of terminal 30 intoaperture 24.

It should be noted that connector body 20 is of one piece constructionand, in its preferred form, is of spring metal material. Clamping flange14 is noted as being of slightly larger dimension than flange 16 whichallows one clamping movement to bring about the same amount of grippingbetween the clamping flanges and the different diameter wire andinsulation. Also worthy of note is the free form of the overlappingextension 22 which allows clearance between flanges 26 and hookedmembers 28. This feature coupled with the lead-in portions 32 and 34allows the particular connector bodies shown to be connected withterminals 30 having varied external dimensions. It should also be notedthat the wrap-over design of extension 22 permits the engagement ofconnector body 20 with terminals that are not exactly cylindrical andwhich may take an oblong or square shape in cross section. In summary,the subject connector body can engage wires of various dimensions andterminals of various dimensions and shapes. Consequently, utility of thesubject connector is extended resulting in a much more versatileconnector.

While the embodiment of the present invention, as herein disclosed,constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical connector for resiliently gripping a pin terminalcomprising: a unitary, thin metal body having a relatively flatintermediate portion and a pair of end portions, one of said endportions including a crimping flange which is adapted to be crimped on ametal conductor, the other of said end portions being folded back oversaid intermediate portion to define an opening for receiving the pinterminal, a pair of spaced flanges integral with said intermediateportion and extending transversely thereof toward said other endportion, said spaced flanges having hook-shaped end sections, said otherend portion of said metal body having flanges which extend laterally ofits opposite side adjacent its free end and which slidably engage thehook-shaped end sections along their undersides when folded back overthe intermediate portion, said opening having a transverse dimensionwhich is less than the transverse dimension of the pin terminal so thatwhen said pin terminal is inserted in the opening the intermediate andother end portions are flexed away from one another and resiliently gripthe pin terminal, the lateral flanges sliding on the underside of thehook-shaped end sections when the intermediate and other end portionsare flexed.

2. An electrical connector for resiliently gripping a cylindrical pinterminal comprising: a unitary, thin, metal body having a relativelyflat intermediate portion and a pair of end portions, one of said endportions including spaced pairs of upwardly projecting cradle members,one pair of the cradle members being adated to be folded to engage theinsulation of an electrical wire while the sec ond pair of the cradlemembers being adapted to be folded to engage the conductive portion ofthe electrical wire, the other of said end portions being folded backover said intermediate portion to define a generally oval-shaped openingfor receiving the cylindrical pin terminal, a pair of spaced flangesintegral with said intermediate portion and extending transverselythereof toward said other end portion, said pair of spaced flangeshaving inverted hook-shaped end sections, said other end portion of saidmetal body having flanges which extend laterally of its opposite sideadjacent its free end and with the flanges slidably engaging thehook-shaped end sections, said oval-shaped opening having a transversedimension which is less than the diameter of said cylindri- 20 cal pinterminal so that when the pin terminal is inserted therein theintermediate and other end portion of the body members are caused tomove outwardly and with the lateral flanges sliding along the undersideof the hook shaped end sections whereby the cylindrical pin terminal isresiliently gripped.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,097,906 7/ 1963 Shannon.3,120,990 2/ 1964 Kinkaid. 3,206,715 9/1965 Skony 339-258 X 3,223,96212/1965 Hammell 339256 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,330,870 5/1963 France.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner JOSEPH H. MCGLYNN, AssistantExaminer US. Cl. X.R. 3 39276

